LOCAL APPROACH OF FRACTURE BASED ON CONTINUUM DAMAGE MECHANICS AND THE RELATED PROBLEMS

Abstract

Recent development of the local approach to fracture based continuum damage mechanics and finite element method together with the related numerical problems is reviewed. After brief description of the concept, procedure and applicability of the local approach, the essential features and the causes of the mesh-dependence of numerical results are discussed. As regularization methods to avoid or to improve the mesh-dependence in time-independent materials, schemes based on localization limiters and nonlocal damage theory are discussed in some detail. The mesh-dependence problem in time-dependent damage, i.e., creep damage, are also discussed.